The Alexander girls’ track and field team finished ninth in Class AAAA at the recent Georgia High School Association state meet in Albany.

Senior Ashton Matson took gold in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, 0 inches.

“It’s a really good feeling. I didn’t expect to get this far. I wouldn’t have without my coaches. … It was just a flood of emotions,” said Matson.

She has participated in track and field since middle school, but did not begin pole vaulting until she was a freshman, after head coach Brian Robinson noticed her speed and upper-body strength and asked her to try it.

“I was terrified,” Matson said.

As a senior Matson’s state championship followed county, region and sectional championships as well.

Two weeks prior to state, Matson said she sprained her back and was afraid she would not be able to compete.

“Thank goodness for Icyhot and Ibuprofen,” she said.

Despite winning at every other major meet this season, Matson said she was still nervous, even down to her last vault.

As expected, Matson said winning state was her best memory from her high school career.

“I’ve replayed it over and over again in my head since I did it and it’s just the best feeling,” she said

Matson has a 4.0 GPA and in April signed a track scholarship to Kennesaw State University.

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